Archery target with arrow stop means



Aug. 31, 1965 c. A. SAUNDERS ARCHERY TARGET WITH ARROW STOP MEANS 2Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 14, 1962 INVENTOR ClzarlesA. Saunders 1965 c.A. SAUNDERS 3,203,698

ARCHERY TARGET WITH ARROW STOP MEANS Filed May 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 235 3641 l "Milli; W 5 JHHlNlllv "Hlllmv W 4 F G 7 INVENTOR.

Charles Al Sauna/e r5 United States Patent 3,203,698 ARCHERY TARGET WITHARROW STOI MEANS Charles A. Saunders, 313 Morton Road, Columbus, Nebr.Filed May 14, 1962, Ser. No. 194,581 Claims. (Cl. 273102.4)

This invention relates to archery targets and more specifically to atwo-stage arrow slowing and arrow stopping target.

Heretofore, the only archery targets found in general use have beenconventional straw filled units which are subject to rapid deteriorationfrom the constant ingress and egress of arrow projectiles. Moreover,these targets possess the inherent danger of failing to adequately stopan impinging arrow whereby the arrow may be damaged or destroyed afterpassage through the target or, of even graver consequence, may damage ordestroy property or persons behind the target.

This invention obviates the aforementioned difliculties by the provisionof an entirely novel concept in the archery target art, namely, atwo-stage target which first slows the arrow and then finally stops itwith a characteristic bounce-out or partial reversal of flight of thearrow, whereby removal of the arrow from the target is expedited anddamage to the target is minimized. Basically, the invention comprises afirst target matt portion comprising an end grain straw-type arrow slowdown means backed up by a second resilient arrow stop means, whereby theflight of an arrow projectile passing through the target matt is insequential order slowed down, stopped, and then partially reversed.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to introduce a new concept inarchery targetry which prevents deleterious wear and tear to the strawpart of the target, which prevents damage to and destruction of personsand property positioned behind the target, which prevents damage to anddestruction of the arrows themselves, and which facilitates the removalof arrows from the target.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the subjectinvention will hereinafter appear, and, for purposes of illustration,but not of limitation, an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shownin the appended drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of four stacked arrow targets constructedin accordance with the teachings of the subject invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side sectional view of one of the arrow targets shown inFIGURE 1, showing, in phantom, an arrow about to impinge on one of theresilient back stops of the improved target;

FIGURE 3 is a top sectional view showing, in phantom, an arrow havingimpinged and resiliently deformed one of the resilient backstops of theimproved target;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the floating resilient backstop takenfrom the rear of the target;

FIGURE 5 is a similar perspective view taken from the front of thetarget;

FIGURE 6 is a side sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIGURE 5;and

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of an untensioned resilient backstop shield,partially broken away to show details of construction.

With reference to the drawings, the stacked target assembly 1 is shownin FIGURE 1. The assembly 1 comprises a plurality of four stacked targetunits 2, 2a, 2b, and 20, each constructed in accordance with theteachings of this invention. One such unit 2 will be described in orderto explain the operation of the subject invention.

In the described embodiment, the target unit 2 comprises an opened frontbox housing 4, which may con- "ice veniently be formed of a corrugatedcardboard. A target rnatt frame 10 comprising the upright verticalmembers 10a and 10b on either vertical interior of the housing 4 and thehorizontal frame members 16c and 19d at th top and the bottom interiorsof the housing 4 respectively are positioned at the front of the targetunit 2. The target matt frame 10 may conveniently be formed of wood.Preferably, the housing 4 is provided with horizontal overlappedportions 6 at the top and 8 at the bottom and with vertical overlappedportions 7 and 9 at either side to enhance the rigidity of the compositetarget unit 2. When the unit is constructed of a corrugated cardboardhousing 4 and a wood frame 10, as preferred, maintenance of the relativecomponents in their respective positions may be facilitated by aconventional stapling operation.

A target matt 12 is mounted within the frame 10. The target matt 12comprises an end grain straw assembly 14 covered on its target line facewith a conventional burlap bulls eye pattern 16. By an end grain targetmatt is meant that each individual straw element of the target (such asa straw element 15, see FIGURES 2 and 3) has its longitudinal axisperpendicular to the target face 16, that is, parallel to the flight of21 directly impinging arrow projectile, such as the arrow 17 or 17ashown in FIG- URES 2 and 3 respectively. The end grain target matt 12serves to slow down an impinging arrow which passes partiallytherethrough, as opposed to a complete stopping operation as in aconventional straw type target wherein the longitudinal axis of theimpinging arrow is generally perpendicular to, rather than parallelwith, the axis of the individual straw elements which it contends.

Arrow stop means frames 18 and 18a are positioned within the housing 2behind the target matt 14. The rear stop means frame 18a is positionedadjacent the rear of the housing 4 and the front stop means frame 18 ispositioned between the target matt frame 10 and the rear arrow stopframe 18a. Each of the arrow stop frames 18 and 18a comprise uprightvertical members 19,

19a and 21, 21a and horizontal members 2%, 20a and 22, 22a which,correspondingly to target matt frame It), may conveniently be formed ofwood. Support means, such as the dowel rod 24 shown in FIGURE 2, areprovided in conjunction with the arrow stop frames 18 and 18a tofloatingly support the arrow stop means to be subsequently described.Also, the rear stop means frame 18a may be provided with cross-bracesthereacross (not shown) in order to enhance the rigidity of thecomposite target unit 2.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the arrow stop meanscomprise a series of partially overlapping staggered shields 26, 26a,26b, and 260. The details of construction of each of the arrow stopshields may be appreciated by reference to the enlarged showing of arrowstop shield 26 in FIGURES 4 through 7.

The arrow stop shield 26 comprises a rectangular plate provided with twospaced apertures 28 and 28a adjacent its upper end. Cables or cords 30,30a are passed through the apertures 28, 28a respectively and aresecured thereto, as by the knots 32, 32a. These cables are then fixed atthe opposite ends to dowel rods adjacent the uppermost portion of thetarget unit 2, as for instance the dowel rod 24 shown in FIGURE 2.Again, the cables 30, 30a may be secured to the dowel rods, as by theknot 34 shown in FIGURE 2.

Preferably, shield 26 is formed of a resilient rubber and is providedwith eyelets 36 and 36a at either of its opposite sides. A cord 38 issecured to the eyelets 36 and 36a so as to bow the shield 26 undertension convexingly outwardly toward the target line. Preferably, thecables 30 and 30a and the cord 38 are each formed of resilient rubberstock so as to enhance the resilient J1 functioning of the apparatus, tobe hereinafter described.

The convex front surface of the shield 26 is provided with a smoothcentral portion 40, and with vertically corrugated end portions 42 and42a on either side thereof. Abutment lips 44 and 46, adjacent the bottomand the top of the shield 26 respectively, are provided to definehorizontal corrugations or ridges.

In preferred use, a series of shield members of the type shown inFIGURES 47 is supported within a target unit 2 in a partiallyoverlapping and staggered relation as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. In thismanner, a substantially continuous area of arrow stop means is presentedto any impinging arrow projectile. Likewise, the free floating cablesupports (such as 30 and 30a, for the shield 26) are substantiallyprotected from damage by virtue of an impinging arrow projectile due tothe protective presence of an overlapping shield next adjacent thereto.

When an online clean arrow shot approaches the target unit 2, thefollowing sequence of events will be observed:

The arrow will pass perpendicularly through the target matt 12 and willbe frictionally slowed down thereby. After passage through the targetmatt 12, the arrow will strike one of the freely floating dependingshields 26, 26a, 2652 or 260 which, being impermeable to the restrictedvelocity arrow projectile, will definitely stop the same. This stoppageis effected both by the resilient give of the shield itself and also bythe free floating absorbtion of momentum as the shield is deflectedrearwardly by virtue of the impact. The resilient give is schematicallyillustrated for shield 26 in FIGURE 3 by virtue of the impingement ofarrow projectile 17a. When the tensioned shield reflexes to its initialconcave position and returns to its gravity-induced free-floatingstation, a reversal of the arrow flight is evidenced. In effect, thearrow is caused to bounce-out partially back through the target matt 14.This bounce-out feature results in an enhanced ability to retrieve thearrow from its lodgement in the target matt 14 without damage to eitherthe arrow or to the matt itself. Obviously, provision of the cables 30and 30a and the cord 38 as resilient rubber stock will facilitate thedescribed arrow stoppage and reversal sequence with a minimum ofdeleterious wear to the target components themselves.

The vertical corrugations 42 and 42a and the horizontal retaining lips44 and 46 are provided to prevent impact slippage of off-line or edgeshots which do not pass cleanly through the target matt 14. The exactproportion of the surface area of a shield divided into the smoothreflexing portion and the corrugated reflexing portion will, of course,depend upon many variables. However, in the preferred embodiment of theinvention an approximately one-third central portion with onethirdcorrugated portions on either side along with the horizontal retaininglips 44 and 46 has been found to give the most satisfactory results.

While the invention has been described with reference to a square housedtarget and with reference to a plurality of arrow stop means shields, itshould be understood that other constructions are contemplated withinthe confines of the invention. Thus, a circular target housing havingone or more rectangular shields as described or having circular freefloating shields may be provided in suitable occasions. Various otherchanges and modifications may be made in the details of construction,arragnements, operations, and materials for the various elements withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the instant invention,especially as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved archery target for receiving directed arrow projectilescomprising:

a housing;

an arrow-permeable target matt supported in the front of the housing;

resilient arrow stop means comprising a bowed, resilient, verticallysupported shield presenting a convex face to said target matt; and

shield support means supporting said resilient arrow stop meansrearwardly of said target matt and horizontally aligned with said matt;

whereby the flight of an arrow projectile passing through the targetmatt is slowed down and is interrupted by said stop means.

2. The archery target of claim 1 wherein said target matt comprises anend grain straw wall structure consisting essentially of a plurality ofstacked elongated straw elements disposed with aligned longitudinal axesparalleling the direction of flight of an arrow directed toward anddirectly impinging said target matt.

3. The archery target of claim 1 wherein said resilient arrow stop meanscomprises a series of partially overlapped and staggered shields.

4. The archery target of claim 1 wherein said means supporting saidarrow stop means comprises flexible couplings each fixed at one of itsends to said housing and at the other of its ends to said resilientshield.

5. The archery target of claim 1 wherein said convex face of said shieldcomprises a smooth central portion, opposed lateral portions havingvertical corrugations, and inclined ridges extending peripherally aboutsaid face.

6. The archery target of claim 1 wherein said means supporting saidarrow stop means comprises cords connected between said housing and saidshield.

7. The archery target of claim 1 wherein said shield comprises anelastomeric member.

8. In an archery device the combination with a straw filled type targetmatt for receiving directed arrow projectiles, of an arrow-impermeablestop means comprising a series of partially overlapped and staggeredbowed resilient shields having their convex sides presented towards saidmatt rearwardly and horizontally aligned with said matt and meanstensioning said shields to bias the same into said bowed position.

9. An improved archery target for receiving directed arrow projectilescomprising:

a housing;

an arrow-permeable target matt supported in the front of the housing;

said target matt comprising an end grain straw wall structure consistingessentially of a plurality of stacked elongated straw elements disposedwith aligned longitudinal axes paralleling the direction of flight of anarrow directed toward and directly impinging said target matt;

resilient arrow stop means comprising a bowed, re-

silient, vertically supported shield presenting a convex face to saidtarget matt;

said resilient arrow stop means comprising a series of partiallyoverlapped and staggered shields;

said convex face of said shield comprises a smooth central portion,opposed lateral portions having vertical corrugations, and inclinedridges extending peripherally about said face; and

shield support means supporting said resilient arrow stop meansrearwardly of said target matt and horizontally aligned with said matt;

whereby the flight of an arrow projectile passing through the targetmatt is slowed down and is interrupted by said stop means.

10. In an archery target for receiving directed arrow projectiles andincluding a housing and an arrow permeable target matt supported in saidhousing, the improvement which comprises:

arrow impermeable stop means;

means supporting said arrow stop means rearwardly of said target mattand horizontally aligned with said matt;

said arrow impermeable stop means being resiliently 5 tensioned andbowed to present a generally convex 2,123,195 face to arrows directedtoward said target matt; 2,482,234 whereby an arrow projectiie passingthrough said target 2,768,919 matt is slowed and arrow flightinterrupted. 3,100,115

References Cited by the Examiner 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 225,734 3/80Tangernan 273-1024 X 6 7/38 Middleton 273-182 X 9/49 Barker 273-10210/56 Bjorksten et a1. 2-2.5 X 8/63 Brenernan 273-1024 FOREIGN PATENTS2/39 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKI-IAM, Primary Examiner. 8/81 Millet et a1. 2-2.5 10 JOHNM. HORAN, Examiner.

8. IN AN ARCHERY DEVICE THE COMBINATION WITH A STRAW FILLED TYPE TARGETMATT FOR RECEIVING DIRECTED ARROW PROJECTICLES, OF AN ARROW-IMPERMEABLESTOP MEANS COMPRISING A SERIES OF PARTIALLY OVERLAPPED AND STAGGEREDBOWED RESILIENT SHIELDS HAVING THEIR CONVEX SIDES PRESENTED TOWARDS SAIDMATT REARWARDLY AND HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID MATT AND MEANSTENSIONING SAID SHIELDS TO BIAS TO SAME INTO SAID BOWED POSITION.